Amendola runs wild, but Redskins lead at halftime

Rams receiver Danny Amendola has a stunning 12 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown at halftime against the Redskins. Now he needs his teammates to do their part.

Amendola was a one-man gang for the Rams’ offense in the first half today in St. Louis, but he wasn’t enough to prevent the Redskins from taking a 21-16 lead into the locker room.

Redskins defensive back Josh Wilson picked up a Rams fumble and ran 30 yards into the end zone on the first play from scrimmage to give the Redskins a 7-0 lead, and they’ve kept that lead throughout. Robert Griffin III ran for the first score of his NFL career, and he also hit Leonard Hankerson for a 68-yard touchdown on a long bomb.

Amendola has been great, tying Reggie Wayne’s NFL record for the most catches in one half, and he’s currently on pace to break Brandon Marshall’s record of 21 catches in a game. But the Rams haven’t had much else.

A couple of odd incidents have overshadowed the first half: First, Rams running back Steven Jackson appeared to score a touchdown on a plunge into the end zone, then got up and spiked the ball. But the officials ruled him down inside the 1-yard line, then threw a flag on Jackson for spiking the ball. Rams coach Jeff Fisher surprisingly did not challenge the ruling on the field that Jackson was down, and the Rams settled for a field goal.

And just before the end of the half, Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein appeared to miss a 42-yard field goal — except that it turned out the play had been waved off because Redskins coach Mike Shanahan called timeout in an attempt to ice the kicker. With more time to prepare for his second attempt, Zuerlein made Shanahan pay for it, and made the kick, bringing the Rams to within five points in a first half they’ve trailed all the way.

Well, where’s the love for the Rams? played a tough game against Detroit in their house last week, and now hanging with the Skins… A loss is always upsetting, but regardless of the outcome here if you’re a Rams fan you have to like the way this team is playing for Fisher.